Alpana Singh, the bottomless source of effervescence on "Check, Please," left her day job as wine director at Lettuce Entertain You several weeks ago, and for the first time in her adult life found herself with time to burn.

So customers of Pastoral might be surprised to see one of Chicago’s most recognizable food personalities behind the cheese counter.

"Did you know you’re not supposed to cross-contaminate a blue cheese knife with another cheese?” she said with party-trivia inflection.

The new gig came about when Singh, who began at "Lettuce" 12 years ago as sommelier at Everest, left her position a month earlier than planned. Her novelist husband, Charles Blackstone, works from home, and understanding the writer’s need for solitude, Singh figured to find some food-related activity to keep her busy and out of the house.

"I didn’t want to stay at home in my pajamas watching '80s movies,” she said.

Singh approached Pastoral about a holiday position, having always been interested in cheeses. Originally she was offered a job assembling gift baskets, but the store thought the Master Sommelier could use a crash course on everything cheese.

"It’s been quite invigorating," she said between shifts at the French Market Friday. "I thought I knew a lot about cheese. Turns out I know nothing. These guys here are extremely knowledgeable; they’re like walking Wikipedias of cheese."

The time off has triggered an academic awakening, and now Singh is hoping to squeeze in breadmaking and butchering classes in the next few months before the start of her next venture. She’s coy about the details, other than to say, "I’m working on a project that will be here in Chicago.”

Until then, you can find her on WTTW-11 each Friday night at 8 p.m., or behind the counter offering samples of Humboldt Fog.